Method for judging use permission of information and content distribution system using the method

ABSTRACT

A method for judging use permission of information on one or more terminal apparatuses which uses content provided by a content provider and metadata provided by a metadata provider and supplementing the content, the method comprising: metadata use permission judgment judging use permission of the metadata based on usage control information regarding use control of the metadata; and using the metadata in the case where in said metadata use permission judgment, the use of the metadata is permitted. Specifically, the usage control information includes the first signer identification information which identifies the range of the provider of the metadata that can be used. The metadata includes a signature of the metadata provider identified in the first signer identification information, and the second signer identification information identifying the signer of the signature. And, said metadata use permission judgment judges the metadata use permission based on the metadata provider identified in said first signer identification information, said second signer identification information, and signature verification.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system in which, through broadcastand communication, digital contents such as video and music, license fordigital content, and metadata including attributes of digital content orcontrol information are distributed, and a user uses digital content byone or more terminal apparatuses. In particular, the present inventionrelates to a system comprising a method for judging use permission ofmetadata and an apparatus to which the method for judging use permissionis applied.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a content distribution service capable of distributingdigital contents such as music, video and game (hereinafter referred toas content) from a server apparatus to one or more terminal apparatusesthrough communication such as Internet, digital broadcast, CableTelevision (CATV), and of using the content in one or more terminalapparatuses has been developed for a practical use. A common system usedfor the content distribution service uses a copyright protectiontechnique for protecting a copyright of content in order to prevent anillegal use of the content by a malicious user. The copyright protectiontechnique is, in specific, a technique of securely controlling use ofcontent by a user such as reproducing the content or copying it to arecording media using encoding technique, identifying technique and thelike. Using the copyright protection technique allows a provider such asa content provider and a service provider to securely control the use ofcontent in the one or more terminal apparatuses by a user.

By the way, in recent years, in order to promote sales, metadata whichis data for supplementing the explanation for a content body isdistributed from a content provider and the like to one or more terminalapparatuses; and the metadata is utilized by the one or more terminalapparatuses. Thus, new forms of content use such as scene search ofcontent and digest viewing are being developed.

On the other hand, there is a case where unintended and unauthorizedmetadata such as scene index for skipping Commercial Message (CM) iscirculated. And, the content provider providing digital content isrequested to prevent the above mentioned circulation of unauthorizedmetadata. Thus, a method for excluding unauthorized metadata by using adigital signature assigned to metadata by a metadata provider thatgenerated the metadata is suggested (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patentpublication No. 2003-51816).

Conventionally, as disclosed in the above mentioned Japanese Laid-OpenPatent publication No. 2003-51816 and the like, by using verification ofa digital signature, validity of metadata signer and tamper of metadatacontent have been detected, and use permission of the metadata has beenjudged.

Here, the use permission judgment of metadata using the conventionaltechnique of digital signature will be explained.

For verification of a digital signature of metadata, digitally signedmetadata, a public key certificate of a metadata signer, and aCertificate Revocation List (CRL) which is a list of revoked public keycertificates are used. The digital signature to metadata is executed bya content provider or a metadata provider.

In the one or more terminal apparatuses, in the case where metadata isused, use permission of the metadata is judged by the followingprocedures.

First, whether the signer ID of the signer who has digitally signed themetadata is included in the CRL is confirmed. Here, the signer ID meansidentification information which uniquely identifies a signer. In thecase where the signer ID is included in the CRL, the metadata is judgedas impossible to be used. In the case where the signer ID is notincluded in the CRL, the signature of the metadata is verified by thepublic key certificate, and existence or non-existence of tamper isdetected. In the case where tamper is detected, the metadata is judgedas impossible to be used. In the case where modification is notdetected, the metadata is judged as possible to be used.

In other words, after confirming that the metadata has been digitallysigned by the metadata provider having an unrevoked signer ID, only inthe case of confirming that the metadata is not tampered, reproductionof the metadata is permitted. The verification of the digital signatureis specifically disclosed in “Secure Electronic Commerce: Building theInfrastructure for Digital Signatures and Encryption” published byWarwick Ford and Michael Baum, Pearson Education Co., Ltd. in 1997.

However, in the metadata use permission judgment according to theconventional technique of digital signature verification, failure causedby unauthorized metadata occurs at least once, and a CRL is generatedafter discovering tamper. Therefore, for the important content for whichfailure caused by unauthorized metadata should not occur, the contentprovider itself examines the content of the metadata, and desires topermit only the metadata which has been digitally signed. In such caseas described above, there is a problem that the above mentioned desirecannot be realized only by the conventional verification of digitalsignature.

Also, a user privately generates metadata, and desires to use themetadata only in the one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user.However, in the metadata use permission judgment according to theconventional digital signature, metadata can only be used in all of theone or more terminal apparatuses or cannot be used. Therefore, there isa problem that even if a content provider attempts to permit such use asdescribed above, the use range of the metadata generated by a usercannot be limited to the one or more terminal apparatuses owned by theuser.

In addition, depending on the content, there is a case where the contentprovider desires to limit generation or revision of metadata by a user,or the content provider desires to cause the metadata, specified by thecontent provider, to be used. However, there is a problem that suchcases as described above cannot be realized only by a digital signature.

In other words, according to the conventional verification of a digitalsignature using a CRL, there is a problem that metadata cannot beflexibly used.

The object of the present invention, in view of such problems asdescribed above, is to provide a content distribution system comprising:a method for judging metadata use permission which can limit metadatathat can be used for each content, and limit the use range of themetadata generated by the user; and one or more apparatuses that executejudgment according to the method for judging metadata use permission.

In other words, the object of the present invention is to provide: amethod for judging information use permission that can certainly excludethe use of unauthorized metadata and enables the flexible use ofmetadata; and a content distribution system using the above mentionedmethod.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In order to solve such problems as described above, the method forjudging information use permission according to the present invention isa method for judging use permission of information on one or moreterminal apparatuses which uses content provided by a content providerand metadata which is data provided by a metadata provider andsupplementing the content, the method comprising: judging use permissionof the metadata based on usage control information regarding use controlof the metadata; and using the metadata in the case where it is judgedthat the use of the metadata is permitted in said judgment.

More specifically, the usage control information includes the firstsigner identification information identifying the range of the providerof the metadata that can be used, the metadata includes the signature ofthe metadata provider identified in the first signer identificationinformation, and the second signer identification informationidentifying the signer of the signature, and in said judgment, it isjudged whether the metadata use is permitted based on the metadataprovider identified in said first signer identification information,said second signer identification information, and signatureverification.

Also, the usage control information includes reference specificationinformation specifying a reference method of metadata in using content,and in said judgment, metadata use permission in using content is judgedbased on the reference specification information.

In addition, the usage control information includes revision permissioninformation indicating revision permission of meta information, and insaid judgment, use permission of metadata is judged based on therevision permission information.

Moreover, the usage control information includes control permissioninformation indicating use permission of user metadata generated by auser in the one or more terminal apparatuses, and in said judgment,metadata use permission is judged based on the control permissioninformation.

Furthermore, the usage control information includes moving rangespecifying information which specifies the moving range of the usermetadata generated by a user in the one or more terminal apparatuses,and in said judgment, metadata use permission is judged based on themoving range specifying information.

As described above, according to the present invention, without judgingwhether metadata is revoked or not, using a CRL as conventionally, basedon the usage control information regarding metadata use control includedin the content license and the like, that is specifically, (i) signeridentification information, (ii) reference specification information,(iii) revision permission information, (iv) control permissioninformation and (v) moving range specifying information, use permissionof the metadata can be judged. Thus, use of unauthorized metadata can becertainly excluded, and flexible use of metadata can be achieved.

In other words, without using a CRL, by using the content license, it ispossible to limit metadata that can be used to only the metadata thathas been digitally signed by the content provider. Also, it is possibleto cause the metadata, specified by the content provider, to be used.Moreover, it is possible to limit generation and revision of metadata bya user, and the moving range of metadata generated by the user.

The present invention can not only be realized as the above mentionedmethod for judging information use permission, but also as (i) one ormore terminal apparatuses that have characteristic steps, as means,included in the above mentioned method for judging information usepermission, (ii) a content distribution system including the abovementioned one or more terminal apparatuses, and (iii) a program whichcauses a computer to execute such steps as described above. Needless tosay, the above mentioned program can be distributed via a recordingmedium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as Internet.

Further Information about Technical Background to this Application

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-380849 filed onNov. 11, 2003 including specification, drawings and claims isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description thereof taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specificembodiment of the invention. In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall schematic structure of thecontent distribution system 1 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing schematic processes of the contentdistribution system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table structure of the user informationDB110 according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the encryption content 210according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the metadata 310 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the license 410 accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the public key certificate510 according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the CRL 520 according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the processes of the use permissionjudgment of (i) the metadata signed by a content distribution server 20or a metadata distribution server 30 or (ii) the metadata generated by auser, according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the sub-routine of the ID comparison(S101) process as shown in FIG. 9.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically explainedusing the drawings as following.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall schematic structure of thecontent distribution system according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content distribution system 1 comprises: amembership management server 10; a content distribution server 20; ametadata distribution server 30; a license management server 40; anauthentication server 50; one or more terminal apparatuses 60; and atransmission path N connecting such components as described above sothat they can be communicated with each other.

The membership management server 10 is a computer apparatus includinguser information DB110 for managing the user who subscribes to thecontent distribution system 1, and transmits a domain key 112 to the oneor more terminal apparatuses 60.

The content distribution server 20 is a computer apparatus used by acontent provider (CP), and includes: a content provider ID212; a secretkey for the content provider; a public key for the secret key; a publickey certificate; a content encryption key 415; and a content body. And,the content distribution server 20 at least generates encryption content210 and transmits the encryption content 210 to the one or more terminalapparatuses 60.

The metadata distribution server 30 is a computer apparatus used by ametadata provider (MP), and includes: a metadata provider ID; a secretkey for the metadata provider; a public key for the secret key; a publickey certificate 510; and metadata 310. And, the metadata distributionserver 30 at least generates metadata 310 for content, and transmits themetadata 310 to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60.

The license management server 40 at least generates a license 410 forusing the encryption content 210 and the metadata 310, and transmits thelicense 410 to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60.

The authentication server 50 is a computer apparatus used by aCertification Authority (CA), and includes a secret key for the CA, apublic key for the secret key, and the like. And, the authenticationserver 50 at least generates a public key certificate 510 for the CP, MPand CA and a CRL 520, and transmits the CRL 520 to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 at least use the encryptioncontent 210 and the metadata 310. The one or more terminal apparatuses60 include a communication unit, a tamper-proof unit and the like. And,the processes related to encryption such as authenticationcommunication, obtaining an encryption key, encryption and decoding areexecuted by the tamper-proof unit so that outflow of the encryption keyand the like do not occur. Also, the tamper-proof unit includes: thedomain key 112; the encryption content 210; the metadata 310; thelicense 410; the CA public key certificate 510; a memory unit formemorizing the CRL 520 and the like; a metadata use permission judgingunit judging the use permission of the metadata; and a utilization unitusing content and metadata based on the judging result of the metadatause permission judging unit.

The transmission path N is a communication network such as Internet, adigital broadcast, or a multiple network thereof.

Next, the process outline leading to the use of the metadata 310 and theencryption content 210 in the content distribution system 1 will beexplained.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the communication proceduresleading to the use of the metadata 310 and the encryption content 210.

The membership management server 10 distributes the domain key 112 tothe one or more terminal apparatuses 60 based on the member's registeredrequest (S1100).

The content distribution server 20 generates the encryption content 210(S1200), and transmits the encryption content 210 to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60 based on the content obtainment request (S1210).

The metadata distribution server 30 generates the metadata 310 (S1400),and transmits the generated metadata 310 to the one or more terminalapparatuses 60 based on the metadata obtainment request from the one ormore terminal apparatuses 60 (S1410).

The license management server 40 generates the license 410 (S1300), andtransmits the license 410 to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60based on the license purchase request (S1310).

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 (i) receive the domain key 112from the membership management server 10 (S1000), (ii) receive theencryption content 210 from the content distribution server 20 (S1010),(iii) receive the license 410 from the license management server 40(S1020), (iv) receive the metadata 310 from the metadata distributionserver 30 (S1030), and (v) use the metadata 310 and the encryptioncontent 210 (S1040).

For the encryption of the content as described below, in general, thesecret-key cryptography algorithms such as Advanced Encryption Standard(AES) and Triple Data Encryption Standard (Triple DES) are used.However, the below mentioned process does not depend on a particularencryption.

Also, for the format of digital signature, in general, the public-keycryptography algorithms such as RSA and Elliptic Curve Digital SignatureAlgorithm (EC-DSA) are used. However, the below mentioned process doesnot depend on a particular encryption.

In addition, for the Hash calculation format, Secure Hash Algorithm 1(SHA-1), MD5 and the like are used in general. However, the belowmentioned process does not depend on a particular calculation format.

Moreover, for the user interface screen of the content selection screenand the like transmitted, to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60,from the membership management server 10, the content distributionserver 20, the metadata distribution server 30 and the licensemanagement server 40, the web page written in the script languages suchas Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) transmitted from a protocol such asHyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Extensible Markup Language(XML), or the page written in Broadcasting Markup Language (BML)transmitted by digital broadcast are used in general. However, the belowmentioned process does not depend on a particular page writing format.

First, the process leading to the reception of the domain key by the oneor more terminal apparatuses 60 will be specifically explained.

The membership management server 10, as shown in FIG. 3, includes theuser information DB110 made of pairs of the user ID111 and the domainkey 112. Here, the user ID111 means the ID provided to each of theowners of the one or more terminal apparatuses 60. Also, the domainmeans an assemble formed by the one or more terminal apparatuses 60owned by users. And, the domain key 112 means the encryption key usedfor data encryption and authentication communication so that datacommunication is limited only between the one or more terminalapparatuses having the same domain key 112. For example, in FIG. 3, thedomain key 112 of “XXXCCC” is assigned to the user ID111 of “XXXAAA”.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit the member's registeredrequest including the user ID111 to the membership management server 10.The membership management server 10, after receiving the request forterminal registration from the one or more terminal apparatuses 60,obtains the domain key 112 corresponding to the user ID111 from the userinformation DB110, and transmits the domain key 112 to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60 (S1100). The one or more terminal apparatuses 60receive the domain key 112 (S1000), and store the received domain key112 in the memory unit of the tamper-proof unit.

In the case where the domain key 112 is communicated between themembership management server 10 and the one or more terminal apparatuses60 through the communication path N, in order to ensure security, afterSecure Authenticated Channel (hereinafter referred to as SAC) such asSecure Socket Layer (SSL) is established, data is communicated.

According to the present embodiment, after SAC is established betweenthe membership management server 10 and the one or more terminalapparatuses 60, the domain key 112 is communicated. However, in the casewhere an intrinsic key (for example, a terminal ID) is stored in the oneor more terminal apparatuses 60, and the membership management server 10manages the intrinsic key of each terminal apparatus 60, the domain key112 may be encrypted by the intrinsic key of the one or more terminalapparatuses 60, and transmitted from the membership management server tothe one or more terminal apparatuses 60.

Next, the process leading to the reception of the encryption content 210will be specifically explained.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit the content selectionrequest to the content distribution server 20. The content distributionserver 20, according to the content selection request of the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60, generates a content selection screen, andtransmits the content selection screen to the one or more terminalapparatuses 60. The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 display thecontent selection screen received from the content distribution server20, and transmits, to the content distribution server 20, the contentobtainment request including the content ID211 of the content selectedby the user's operation. As for the content selection screen, after thecontent is selected by the one or more terminal apparatuses 60, thecontent obtainment request including the corresponding content ID211 istransmitted to the content distribution server 20.

The content distribution server 20 generates the encryption content 210(S1200). More specifically, the content distribution server 20, to thecontent body 213, by adding the content ID211 which differs for eachcontent and the content provider ID212 which differs for each contentprovider, and encrypting the content provider ID212 and the content body213 with the content encryption key 415, generates the encryptioncontent 210.

The encryption content 210, as shown in FIG. 4, includes the contentID211, the content provider ID212 and the content body 213. The contentprovider ID212 and the content body 213 are encrypted by the contentencryption key 415 included in the license 410.

The content ID211 is used to associate the license 410 with theencryption content 210. The content provider ID212 is used to identifythe provider of the encryption content 210. The content body 213 isdigital data such as video and music.

The content distribution server 20 transmits, to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60, the encryption content 210 corresponding to thecontent ID211 included in the content obtainment request (S1210). Theone or more terminal apparatuses 60 receive the encryption content 210from the content distribution server 20 (S1010), and stores the receivedencryption content in the memory unit of the tamper-proof unit.

The transmission of the encryption content 210 from the contentdistribution server 20 to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60 may beexecuted by either streaming or file distribution.

Next, the process leading to the reception of the metadata 310 will bespecifically explained.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit the metadata selectionrequest to the metadata distribution server 30. The metadatadistribution server 30, according to the metadata obtainment requestfrom the one or more terminal apparatuses 60, generates the metadataselection screen, and transmits the generated metadata selection screento the one or more terminal apparatuses 60. The one or more terminalapparatuses 60 display the received metadata selection screen, andtransmits the metadata obtainment request including the metadata ID ofthe metadata 310 selected by the user's operation to the metadatadistribution server 30. As for the metadata selection screen, after thedesirable metadata is selected by the one or more terminal apparatuses60, the metadata obtainment request including the corresponding metadataID is transmitted to the metadata distribution server 30.

The metadata distribution server 30 generates the metadata 310 (S1400).More specifically, the metadata distribution server 30 generates themetadata body 311, and stores the ID of the metadata provider into themetadata signer ID312. Thus, the metadata distribution server 30generates a digital signature 313 for the metadata body 311 and themetadata signer ID312. There is also a case where the digital signatureof the metadata 310 is executed by the content distribution server 20.In such case as described above, the metadata body 311 is transmittedfrom the metadata distribution server 30 to the content distributionserver 20. Then, the content distribution server 20 stores the contentprovider ID into the metadata signer ID312, and generates the metadata310 by generating the digital signature 313 of the content provider.And, the metadata 310 is transmitted to the metadata distribution server30.

The metadata 310, as shown in FIG. 5, includes the metadata body 311,the metadata signer ID312, and the digital signer 313.

The metadata body 311 includes, in addition to the metadata per se: themetadata ID3111 for identifying metadata; attribute information 3112such as a content ID; location information 3113 for content; controlinformation 3114 for content such as a scene index; and ageneration-by-user flag 3115 for indicating that the metadata is themetadata generated by the user. The metadata signer ID312 is used toidentify the signer who has digitally signed the metadata 310. Thedigital signature 313 is used for detecting tamper of the metadata body311.

The metadata distribution server 30 transmits, to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60, the metadata 310 corresponding to the metadataID included in the metadata obtainment request (S1410). The one or moreterminal apparatuses 60 receive the metadata 310 from the metadatadistribution server (S1030) and store the received metadata 310 in thememory unit of the tamper-proof unit.

Next, the process leading to the reception of the license 410 of thecontent will be explained.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit the license selectionrequest to the license management server 40. The license managementserver 40, according to the license selection request from the one ormore terminal apparatuses 60, generates the license selection screen,and transmits the generated license selection screen to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60. The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 displaythe received license selection screen, and transmits, to the licensemanagement server 40, the license purchase request including the licenseID411 of the license 410 selected by the user's operation. As for thelicense selection screen, after the desirable license is selected, thelicense purchase request including the corresponding license ID istransmitted to the license management server 40.

The license management server 40 generates the license 410 including thecorresponding license ID when the license purchase request is made(S1300). More specifically, the license management server 40 receives,from the content distribution server 20: a content ID412; a contentprovider ID413; usage rules 414; and a content encryption key 415, andgenerates the license 410 by adding the license ID411 (S1300).

The license 410, as shown in FIG. 6, includes: the license ID411; thecontent ID412; the content provider ID413; the usage rules 414; and thecontent encryption key 415.

The license ID411 is used for identifying the license 410 in the licensemanagement server 40. The content ID412 is used for associating thelicense 410 with the encryption content 210. The content provider ID413is used for identifying the content provider of the content controlledby the license 410. The usage rules 414 are used for controlling the useof the content and metadata. The content encryption key 415 is used fordecoding the content.

More specifically, the usage rules 414 include information regardingcontent use control 4140 and information regarding metadata use control4144.

As the information regarding content use control 4140, there areinformation regarding use expiration date 4141, information regardingpossible use frequency 4142, and the like. As the information regardinguse expiration date 4141, for example, information such as “use possibleuntil December 31 of 2005” is included. As the information regardingpossible use frequency 4142, for example, information such as “usepossible for three times” is included.

As the information regarding metadata use control 4144, there are signeridentification information 4145 of metadata, reference specificationinformation 4146 of metadata, revision permission information 4147 ofmetadata, control permission information 4148 according to metadatagenerated by a user, moving range specifying information 4149 accordingto metadata generated by a user, and the like.

The signer identification information 4145 is information for specifyinga signer of metadata that can be used, and includes: a signer ID; acontent provider; a group of metadata providers trusted by the abovementioned content provider; and a flag indicating no-limit of such groupas described above. In other words, as the signer identificationinformation 4145, for example, as the metadata signer, signeridentification information such as “impossible except for the contentprovider”, “possible for the content provider and metadata providerauthorized by the content provider” or “possible for all” are included.Here, the metadata provider authorized by the content provider is ametadata provider having a public key certificate 510 digitally signedby the content provider, and has a higher credibility of the contentdistribution server 20 than the other metadata providers. The metadatasigner identification information 4145 may be the metadata signer ID312which permits or disapproves.

The reference specification information 4146 is information whichspecifies a reference method of metadata when using content, andincludes: a flag specifying the necessity of referring to metadata; ametadata ID to be referred to; a signer ID of the metadata to bereferred to, and the like. In other words, as the metadata referencespecification information 4146, for example, in the case where it isdesired to force the reference of the metadata 310 to be distributedwith the encryption content 210, the metadata reference specifying flagis included. The reference specification information 4146 may be eitherof the metadata reference specifying flag, the metadata ID of themetadata desired to force a reference, or the metadata signer ID of themetadata. According to the present embodiment, the example of includingthe metadata reference specification information 4146 in the contentlicense is described. However, the encryption content 210 may includethe reference specification information 4146.

The revision permission information 4147 includes: a flag indicating themetadata revision permission, the revisable metadata ID, a signer ID ofthe revisable metadata, a content provider, a group of metadataproviders trusted by the above mentioned content provider, and a flagindicating no-limit of such metadata providers. In other words, therevision permission information 4147 of metadata may be, for example,either of a flag indicating “metadata revisable” or “metadatanon-revisable”, a metadata ID of the revisable metadata or non-revisablemetadata, or a metadata signer ID 312 which has digitally signed therevisable metadata or non-revisable metadata.

According to the present embodiment, the case where the revisionpermission information 4147 of metadata is included in the contentlicense is described. However, the revision permission information 4147may be included in either of the following: the encryption content 210;the metadata body 311 of the metadata 310; or the license of themetadata 310 in the case where the metadata 310 is encrypted as well asthe content and there is a license of the metadata 310 including anencryption key.

The control permission information 4148 is a flag indicating the usepermission of the metadata generated by the user. In other words, as thecontrol permission information 4148 according to the metadata generatedby the user, for example, information such as “control possibleaccording to the metadata generated by the user” or “control impossibleaccording to the metadata generated by the user” is included. Accordingto the present embodiment, the case where the control permissioninformation 4148 according to the metadata generated by the user isincluded in the content license is described. However, the controlpermission information 4148 according to the metadata generated by theuser may be included in the encryption content 210.

The moving range specifying information 4149 is information whichspecifies one or more terminal apparatuses which have generated metadatagenerated by the user possible to be used. And, the moving rangespecifying information 4149 includes: a flag indicating no-limit orlimiting to one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user who hasgenerated the metadata; the use frequency which limits the use in one ormore terminal apparatuses except for the one or more terminalapparatuses owned by the user who has generated the metadata; theexpiration date and the like.

In other words, as the moving range specifying information 4149, forexample, information indicating the moving range such as “moveunlimited” or “limiting to one or more terminal apparatuses owned by theuser who has generated the metadata” is included. According to thepresent invention, the case where the moving range specifyinginformation 4149 of the metadata generated by the user is included inthe content license is described. However, the moving range specifyinginformation 4149 may be included in either of the following: theencryption content 210; the metadata body 311 of the metadata 310; andthe metadata license in the case where he metadata is encrypted as wellas the content, and there is a license of the metadata including anencryption key.

After the license generation is finished, the license management server40, according to the license obtainment request from the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60, after executing a purchase process of thelicense, transmits the license 410 to the one or more terminalapparatuses 60 (S1310). The purchase process of the license is executedbetween the purchase server which is not shown in the drawings and thelicense management server 40.

In the case where the license 410 is communicated between the licensemanagement server 40 and the one or more terminal apparatuses 60 throughthe transmission path N, in order to ensure security, after establishingSAC, data is communicated.

According to the present embodiment, after the SAC is establishedbetween the license management server 40 and the one or more terminalapparatuses 60, the license 410 is communicated. However, in the casewhere an intrinsic key is stored in the one or more terminal apparatuses60, and the license management server 40 manages the intrinsic key ofeach terminal apparatus 60, the license 410 may be encrypted using theintrinsic key of the one or more terminal apparatuses 60, andtransmitted from the license management server 40 to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 receive the license 410 from thelicense management server 40 (S1020), and store the license 410 in thememory unit of the tamper-proof unit.

Next, the receiving process of the public key certificate 510 and theCRL 520 will be specifically explained.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit a request for a publickey certificate to the content distribution server 20, and receives thepublic key certificate 510 of the content distribution server 20. Also,the one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit a request for a publickey certificate to the metadata distribution server 30, and receive thepublic key certificate 510 of the metadata distribution server 30.Moreover, the one or more terminal apparatuses 60 transmit a request fora public key certificate to the authentication server 50, and receivethe public key certificate 510 of the authentication server 50.

Although it is not shown in FIG. 2, every time the content distributionserver 20 and the metadata distribution server 30 request the public keycertificate 510, the authentication server 50 generates the public keycertificate 510, and transmits the public key certificate 510 to thecontent distribution server 20 and the metadata distribution server 30.Also, every time the content distribution server 20 requests a revoke ofthe metadata distribution server 30, the authentication server 50generates a CRL, and transmits the generated CRL to the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60.

More specifically, the authentication server 50 has a secret key and apublic key paired with the secret key. And, when the contentdistribution server 20 and the metadata distribution server 30, assubjects, request the generation of the public key certificate 510, inexchange for the public key 512 of the subjects, the authenticationserver 50 transmits the public key certificate 510 to the subjects. Inother words, after receiving the generation request of the public keycertificate 510 including the subject public key 512 from the contentdistribution server 20 or the metadata distribution server 30, theauthentication server 50 (i) generates a subject ID 511 which differsfor each subject public key 512, (ii) generates a digital signature 513for the subject ID 511 and the subject public key 512, (iii) generates apublic key certificate 510 made of the subject ID 511, the subjectpublic key 512 and the digital signature 513, and (iv) transmits thepublic key certificate 510 to the content distribution server 20 or themetadata distribution server 30.

In the case where the content distribution server 20 authorizes thedigital signature of the metadata to the trusted metadata distributionserver 30, the content distribution server 20 may execute the generationprocess of the public key certificate 510 of the metadata distributionserver 30.

In such case as described above, the metadata distribution server 30having the public key certificate 510 digitally signed by the contentdistribution server 20 may be judged as trusted by the contentdistribution server 20 more than the other metadata distribution server30. Such method as described above is a general method called acertificate pass, and specifically explained in non-patent literature 1.

The public key certificate 510, as shown in FIG. 7, includes, at least,the subject ID 511, the subject public key 512, the digital signature513 and the certificate signer ID 514. The subject ID 511 is an IDidentifying the subject of the public key certificate 510, and, forexample, the serial number of the X. 509 certificate may be used.

The subject public key 512 is used for verification of the digitalsignature of the signer specified by the subject ID 511. The digitalsignature 513 is used for the tamper detection of, at least, the subjectID 511 and the subject public key 512. The certificate signer ID 514 isused for specifying the signer who has digitally signed the public keycertificate 510.

Also, the authentication server 50 has a CRL 520. The CRL 520, as shownin FIG. 8, includes, at least, a renewal date 521 and a revoked subjectID 522. Here, a revoke means to revoke the digital signature by thesigner specified by the subject ID 522.

The renewal date 521 is, for example, a date when the CRL 520 isgenerated, and used for the version confirmation of the CRL 520. Therevoked subject ID522 is used for identifying the signer to be revoked.

After receiving a request for the CRL renewal including the ID of themetadata distribution server 30 to be revoked from the contentdistribution server 20, the authentication server 50 (i) renews therenewal date 521 to the CRL generation date, for example, from “Jan. 1,2003” to “Nov. 11, 2003”, (ii) adds the received ID of the metadatadistribution server 30 to the subject ID522, (iii) generates the CRL520, and (iv) transmits the CRL 520 to the one or more terminalapparatuses 60.

As described above, the domain key 112 is obtained from the membershipmanagement server 10 (S1000); the encryption content 210 is receivedfrom the content distribution server 20 (S1010); the license 410 isreceived from the license management server 40 (S1020); the metadata 310is received from the metadata distribution server 30 (S1030); and theone or more terminal apparatuses 60 use the metadata 310 and the content(S1040).

Next, the use permission judgment of the metadata signed by the contentdistribution server 20 or the metadata distribution server 30 and themetadata generated by the user will be explained.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operations of the use permissionjudging process of the metadata by the one or more terminal apparatuses60.

The metadata 310 judges whether or not the metadata is the metadatagenerated by the user (S200). The process of judging metadata generatedby the user (S200) will be explained later.

In the case where the metadata is not the metadata generated by theuser, the process is transited to the signer identification informationjudgment (S100). In the case where the metadata is the metadatagenerated by the user (in the case of the later mentioned value “0”),the process is transited to the step S201. In the signer identificationinformation judgment (S100), the signer identification information 4145is obtained from the usage rules 414 of the license 410, and judgedwhich of the following the signer identification information 4145 is:“impossible except for the content provider”, “possible for the contentprovider and the metadata provider authorized by the content provider”,or “possible for all”.

In the case where the signer identification information 4145 is either“impossible except for the content provider” or “possible for thecontent provider and the metadata provider authorized by the contentprovider”, the process is transited to the ID comparison (S101).

The ID comparison (S101) will be explained using FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the sub-routine of the ID comparison(S101).

In the ID comparison (S101), (i) the encryption content 210 is decryptedby the content encryption key 415, (ii) the content provider ID212 isobtained, (iii) the metadata signer ID312 is obtained from the metadata310, and (iv) the above mentioned content provider ID212 and metadatasigner ID312 are compared (S301).

In the case where the content provider ID212 corresponds with themetadata signer ID312, the process is transited to the signatureverification (S102). In other words, in such case as described above, inorder to fulfill the requirement that “only the metadata generated bythe content provider can be used”, the process is advanced to the stepS102.

In the case where the content provider ID212 and the metadata signerID312 do not correspond with each other, the signer identificationinformation 4145 is confirmed (S302).

In the case where the signer identification information 4145 is“possible for the content provider and the metadata provider authorizedby the content provider”, the content provider ID212 is compared withthe certificate signer ID514 of the public key certificate 510 for whichthe metadata signer ID312 and the subject ID511 correspond with eachother (S303).

In the case where the certificate signer ID514 and the content providerID212 correspond with each other, the process is transited to thesignature verification (step S102). In other words, in order to fulfillthe requirement that “possible for the content provider and the metadataprovider authorized by the content provider”, the process is advanced tothe step S102.

On the other hand, in the case where in the step S302 the signeridentification information 4145 is “impossible except for the contentprovider”, even if the signer identification information 4145 sets thesigner of the metadata possible to be used as “except for the contentprovider”, as the signer of the metadata 310 is other than the contentdistribution server 20, the metadata 310 cannot be used.

Also, in the step S303, in the case where the certificate signer ID514and the content provider ID212 do not correspond with each other, evenif the signer identification information 4145 sets the signer of themetadata possible to be used as “possible for the content provider andthe metadata provider authorized by the content provider”, as the signerof the metadata is other than the content distribution server 20 and themetadata distribution server 30 authorized by the content distributionserver 20, the metadata 310 cannot be used.

Going back to the main routine of FIG. 9, in the case where the contentprovider ID212 and metadata signer ID312 correspond with each other, (i)the signature verification is executed (S102), (ii) the public keycertificate 510 including the subject ID511 corresponding with themetadata signer ID312 of the digital signature of the metadata isobtained, (iii) the digital signature of the metadata is decrypted usingthe subject public key 512 included in the public key certificate 510,(iv) the hush values of the metadata body 311 and the metadata signerID312 are compared, and verified whether or not they correspond witheach other. In the case where the above mentioned hush values of themetadata body 311 and the metadata signer ID312 correspond with eachother, as there has not been tamper, the metadata 310 is judged aspossible to be used. On the other hand, in the case where the abovementioned hush values of the metadata body 311 and the metadata signerID312 do not correspond with each other, as there has been tamper, themetadata 310 is judged as impossible to be used.

On the other hand, in the step S100, the signer identificationinformation 4145 is “possible for all”, the process is transited to theCRL confirmation (S110).

In the CRL conformation (S110), whether or not the metadata signer ID312of the metadata 310 is included in the revoked subject ID522 of the CRL520 is judged. In the case where the metadata signer ID312 is notincluded in the revoked subject ID522, the process is transited to thesignature verification (S102), and the use permission is judgeddepending on the existence of tamper.

On the other hand, in the case where the metadata signer ID312 isincluded in the list, as the signer is revoked, the metadata 310 isjudged as impossible to be used.

By such processes as describe above, based on the signer identificationinformation 4145 stored in the usage rules 414 of the license 410, it ispossible to judge the use permission of the metadata signed by thecontent distribution server 20 or the metadata distribution server 30.

According to the present embodiment, the signer identificationinformation 4145 is the flag which identifies one value out of the threevalues such as “impossible except for the content provider”, “possiblefor the content provider and the metadata provider authorized by thecontent provider” or “possible for all”. However, the signeridentification information 4145 may be a flag identifying one value outof at least two values among “impossible except for the contentprovider”, “possible for the content provider and the metadata providerauthorized by the content provider” or “possible for all”.

In such case as described above, for example, if the signeridentification information 4145 is the flag identifying “impossibleexcept for the content provider” or “possible for all”, the process ofthe case where the signer identification information 4145 according tothe present embodiment is “possible for the content provider and themetadata provider authorized by the content provider” is not executed.If the signer identification information 4145 is a flag identifying“impossible except for the content provider” or “possible for thecontent provider and the metadata provider authorized by the contentprovider” the process of the case where the signer identificationinformation 4145 is “possible for all” is not executed. However, thesame effects can be achieved in either of the above mentioned cases.

According to the present embodiment, in the signer identificationinformation judgment (S100), when the signer identification information4145 is “impossible except for the content provider” or “possible forthe content provider and the metadata provider authorized by the contentprovider”, the CRL confirmation (S110) is not executed, but may beexecuted after the signer identification information judgment (S100).

According to the present embodiment, the signer identificationinformation 4145 is stored in the usage rules 414 of the license 410.However, the signer identification information 4145 may be stored in theother areas than the usage rules 414 in the license 410. Also, thesigner identification information 4145 may be stored in the encryptioncontent 210. Moreover, in the case where metadata is encrypted as wellas the content, and there is a license of the metadata 310 including anencryption key, the signer identification information 4145 may be storedin the license of the metadata 310. In such cases as described above,the obtainment sources of the signer identification information 4145respectively differ, but the same effects can be achieved in each case.

According to the present embodiment, the signer identificationinformation 4145 is a flag indicating “impossible except for the contentprovider”, “possible for the content provider and the metadata providerauthorized by the content provider” or “possible for all”. However, thesigner identification information 4145 may be the metadata signer ID312of the metadata 310. In such case as described above, the signer of themetadata possible to be used is limited to the signer of the metadatasigner ID312. However, the same effects can be achieved.

According to the present embodiment, for the ID comparison (S101) ofwhether or not the metadata signer ID312 of the metadata 310 is thecontent provider ID, the content provider ID212 included in theencryption content 210 is used. However, in the case where only thepublic key certificate 510 of the content provider is stored in advance,such as when transmitting to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60,the subject ID511 included in the public key certificate 510 may beused. Also, in the case where only the content provider ID is stored inadvance, such as when transmitting to the one or more terminalapparatuses 60, the stored content provider ID may be used. Moreover, inthe case where there is a license of the metadata 310, and the contentprovider ID is stored in the license of the metadata 310, the contentprovider ID of the license of the metadata 310 may be used. In either ofsuch cases as described above, as the content provider ID of the contentdistribution server 20 can be specified, the same effects can beachieved.

Next, before moving on to the explanation of the use permission of themetadata generated by the user, the generation process of metadata bythe user and the like will be explained.

According to the input operation of the user, the one or more terminalapparatuses 60 generate metadata. Specifically, when “1” is set for thegeneration-by-user flag 3115 indicating that it is the metadatagenerated by the user, information such as a scene index is stored inthe metadata body 311. And, in order to indicate that the metadatagenerator is the user, the value “0” is stored in the metadata signerID312, and the value “0” is stored without digitally signing the digitalsignature 313.

According to the present embodiment, the case where the value “0” isstored in the metadata signer ID312 and the digital signature 313 isdescribed. However, as long as it can be identified that the metadata310 is generated by the user in the one or more terminal apparatuses 60,other values may be used.

According to the present embodiment, the metadata generated by the useris not digitally signed. However, in the case where all of the one ormore terminal apparatuses 60 have the metadata signer ID312, a secretkey and a public key certificate 510, the metadata generated by the usermay be digitally signed. In such case as described above, in the latermentioned judgment of the metadata generated by the user (S200), whetheror not the digital signer of the metadata 310 is the one or moreterminal apparatuses 60 owned by the user is judged.

In the case where the one or more terminal apparatuses 60 do not have asecret key and a public key certificate, by encrypting the hush value ofthe metadata 310 using the domain key 112 or the intrinsic key, the sameeffects can be achieved.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 obtain, from the usage rules414, the moving range specifying information 4149 of the metadatagenerated by the user. In the case of “move unlimited”, the metadatagenerated by the above mentioned process is accumulated, as it is, inthe one or more terminal apparatuses 60 and the like. In the case of“limited to the one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user whohas generated the metadata”, the metadata body 311 may be encrypted bythe domain key 112 and accumulated in the one or more terminalapparatuses 60 or an external memory medium such as a DVD-R. Otherwise,the metadata body 311 may be transmitted to the other terminalapparatuses owned by the user. In such case as described above, as themetadata body 311 is encrypted by the domain key, even if one or moreterminal apparatuses 60 of a different domain obtain the metadata 310,the metadata 310 cannot be used.

According to the present embodiment, in the case where the moving rangespecifying information 4149 of the metadata generated by the user is“limited to the one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user whohas generated the metadata”, the metadata body 311 is encrypted usingthe domain key 112. However, as long as the secret information common tothe one or more terminal apparatuses 60 owned by the user is used, otherinformation may be used.

Next, the use permission judgment of the metadata generated by the userwill be explained using FIG. 9.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 execute judgment of the metadatagenerated by the user (S200).

In the judgment of the metadata generated by the user (S200), whetherthe metadata signer ID312 of the metadata 310 is the value “0” isjudged.

In the case where the signer ID312 of the metadata 310 is not the value“0”, the process is transited to the above mentioned signeridentification information judgment (S100).

In the case where the signer ID312 of the metadata is the value “0”, theprocess is transited to the control permission judgment of the metadatagenerate by the user (S201).

In the control permission judgment of the metadata generate by the user(S201), the control permission information 4148 according to themetadata generated by the user is obtained from the usage rules 414 ofthe license 410. In the case where the control permission information4148 according to the metadata generated by the user is “controlpossible according to the metadata generated by the user”, the processis transited to the moving range judgment of the metadata generated bythe user (S202).

In the moving range judgment of the metadata generated by the user(S202), the moving range specifying information 4149 of the metadatagenerated by the user is obtained from the usage rules 414 of thelicense 410. In the case where the moving range specifying information4149 is “move unlimited”, the metadata generated by the above mentionedprocess is judged as possible to be used.

On the other hand, in the case where the moving range specifyinginformation 4149 of the metadata generated by the user is “limited tothe one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user who has generatedthe metadata”, the metadata body 311 is decrypted by the domain key 112,and whether or not there is a generation-by-user flag 3115 indicatingthat the metadata is the metadata generated by the user (S203). As aresult of the judgment, in the case where there is a generation-by-userflag 3115, that is, in the case where “1” is set in thegeneration-by-user flag 3115, the metadata 310 is judged as possible tobe used.

In the case where there is not a generation-by-user flag 3115 that is,in the case where “0” is set in the generation-by-user flag 3115, themetadata 310 cannot be used.

Also, as a result of the judgment of the step S201, in the case where“control according to the metadata generated by the user is impossible”,the metadata 310 cannot be used.

By such processes as described above, based on the control permissioninformation 4148 and the moving range specifying information 4149, it ispossible to judge the use permission of the metadata generated by theuser.

According to the present embodiment, the moving range specifyinginformation 4149 is a flag indicating either of “control possibleaccording to the metadata generated by the user” or “control impossibleaccording to the metadata generated by the user”. In the case where themoving range specifying information 4149 is “control possible accordingto the metadata generated by the user”, by encrypting the metadatagenerated by the user using the domain key 112, the moving range of themetadata generated by the user is limited to the one or more terminalapparatuses owned by the user. However, the usage rules such as themoving frequency and the moving expiration date may be stored as themoving range specifying information 4149, and the metadata generated bythe user may be encrypted by the encryption key generated by the one ormore terminal apparatuses 60. Also, by setting, in the license of themetadata generated by the user including the encryption key, the usagerules such as the moving frequency and the moving expiration date storedas the moving range specifying information 4149, the moving may belimited. In such case as described above, the moving range of themetadata generated by the user is limited by the moving frequency andthe moving expiration date stored as the moving range specifyinginformation 4149.

The verification of the public key signature requires a long processingtime. It is inefficient to repeatedly verify the once verified metadatausing the public key. Thus, in the case where the control according tothe metadata generated by the user is possible, that is, in the casewhere the content provider permits, by regarding the normal metadatajudged as possible to be used as the metadata generated by the user, thesignature verification process can be omitted. Thus, the processing timecan be reduced to a large extent.

Hereinafter, the process executed in the case where in the abovementioned judgment process the metadata 310 is judged as possible to beused will be explained.

First, the use process of the content which has a mandatory reference tothe metadata will be explained.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 detect, from the usage rules 414of the license 410, whether or not the reference specificationinformation 4146 of the metadata exists. In the case where the referencespecification information 4146 does not exist, the use of the encryptioncontent 210 is started. In the case where the reference specificationinformation 4146 exists, the reference specification information 4146 isobtained. And, the metadata to be referred to is obtained from themetadata ID included in the reference specification information 4146. Inthe case where in the use permission judgment of the metadata themetadata is judged as possible to be used, the use of the content isstarted in reference to the metadata. In the case where the metadata tobe referred to cannot be obtained and in the case where in the usepermission judgment the use of the metadata is judged as impossible tobe used, the content cannot be used.

According to the present embodiment, the reference specificationinformation 4146 is the metadata ID. However, the referencespecification information 4146 may be the metadata signer ID312.

According to the present embodiment, the reference specificationinformation 4146 is the metadata ID. However, for example, in the casewhere the encryption content 210 and the metadata 310 are bothtransmitted to the one or more terminal apparatuses 60, and theencryption content 210 and the metadata 310 are associated with eachother, the reference specification information 4146 may be the flag foridentifying whether to refer or not to refer to the above mentionedencryption content 210 and metadata 310.

The one or more terminal apparatuses 60 obtain the revision permissioninformation 4147 of the metadata from the usage rules 414 of the license410, and make a judgment from either of “metadata revisable” or“metadata non-revisable”.

In the case where the revision permission information 4147 of themetadata is “metadata non-revisable”, the metadata 310 including thecontent ID211 of the encryption content 210 in the metadata body 311cannot be revised.

In the case where the revision permission information 4147 is “metadatarevisable”, according to the user's operation, the metadata 310including the content ID211 of the encryption content 210 in themetadata body 311 is revised. A request for a re-digital signatureincluding the revised metadata 310 is transmitted to the signer of themetadata signer ID312. And, the signer of the metadata signer ID312receives the re-digitally signed metadata 310.

According to the present embodiment, the revision permission information4147 is a flag indicating either of “metadata revisable” or “metadatanon-revisable”. However, the revision permission information 4147 may bethe metadata ID of the revisable metadata 310. In such case as describedabove, only the metadata 310 specified by the revision permissioninformation 4147 is judged as possible to be revised.

Also, the revision permission information 4147 may be the metadata ID ofthe non-revisable metadata 310. In such case as described above, onlythe metadata 310 specified by the revision permission information 4147is judged as non-revisable.

According to the present embodiment, after revising the metadata 310,the metadata 310 is re-digitally signed by the signer of the metadatasigner ID312. However, in the case where the one or more terminalapparatuses 60 have a public key, a secret key and a public keycertificate 510, the one or more terminal apparatuses 60 may digitallysign the metadata 310.

Although only an exemplary embodiments of this invention has beendescribed in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiment without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The content distribution system 1 according to the present embodimentcan control the use of the metadata 310 by the content distributionserver 20, and is beneficial as the content distribution system whichcan exclude the metadata with low credibility unintended by the contentdistribution server 20.

1-46. (canceled)
 47. A method for judging use permission of informationused by one or more terminal apparatuses which use content provided by acontent provider and metadata which is data provided by a metadataprovider and supplementing the content, the method comprising: judginguse permission of the metadata based on usage control informationregarding use control of the metadata; and using the metadata in thecase where it is judged that the use of the metadata is permitted insaid judging, wherein the usage control information includes firstsigner identification information identifying a range of a provider ofmetadata that can be used, a signature of the metadata provider isincluded in the metadata, second signer identification information isincluded in a public key certificate used for verifying the signature ofthe metadata, the second signer identification information identifyingat least one of the signer of the metadata and the signer of the publickey certificate, in said judging, it is judged whether the metadata useis permitted based on the metadata provider identified in the firstsigner identification information, the second signer identificationinformation, and the signature verification using the public keycertificate, and the first signer identification information includesinformation identifying at least one of (i) the signer of the metadata,(ii) the signer of the public key certificate used for the signatureverification of the metadata and (iii) no limit.
 48. The method forjudging use permission of information according to claim 47, wherein theone or more terminal apparatuses hold the public key certificate usedfor the signature verification of the metadata signer, and in saidjudging, it is judged that the use of the metadata is permitted in thecase where (i) the signature verification of the metadata is successfulusing the public key certificate held by the one or more terminalapparatuses, and (ii) the subject of the public key certificatecorresponds with the identification of the first signer identificationinformation.
 49. The method for judging use permission of informationaccording to claim 47, wherein the one or more terminal apparatusespreviously hold third signer identification information uniquelyidentifying the second signer identification information, and in saidjudging, it is judged that the use of the metadata is permitted in thecase where the third signer identification information corresponds withthe second signer identification information.
 50. The method for judginguse permission of information according to claim 47, wherein the contentincludes third signer identification information uniquely identifyingthe second signer identification information, and in said judging, it isjudged that the use of the metadata is permitted in the case where thethird signer identification information corresponds with the secondsigner identification information.
 51. The method for judging usepermission of information according to claim 47, wherein the metadata isencrypted, the one or more terminal apparatuses include an encryptionkey for decrypting the metadata, and hold a second license for using themetadata, third signer identification information is included in thesecond license, the third signer identification information uniquelyidentifying the second signer identification information, and in saidjudging, the use of the metadata is permitted in the case where thirdsigner identification information corresponds with the second signeridentification information, the third signer identification informationuniquely identifying the second signer identification informationincluded in the second license.
 52. The method for judging usepermission of information according to claim 47, wherein the firstsigner identification information includes third signer identificationinformation uniquely identifying the second signer identificationinformation.
 53. The method for judging use permission of informationaccording to claim 47, wherein user identification information isincluded in user metadata generated by a user in the one or moreterminal apparatuses.
 54. The method for judging use permission ofinformation according to claim 53, wherein for the user metadata, adigital signature is omitted, and in said judging, verification of thesignature is omitted.
 55. The method for judging use permission ofinformation according to claim 53, wherein the user metadata is at leastpartially encrypted.
 56. The method for judging use permission ofinformation according to claim 55, wherein the one or more terminalapparatuses hold secret information common to the one or more terminalapparatuses owned by the user, and the secret information decrypts theuser metadata.
 57. The method for judging use permission of informationaccording to claim 47, wherein the content is encrypted, the one or moreterminal apparatuses include an encryption key for decrypting thecontent, and hold a first license for using the content, and the firstsigner identification information is included in the first license. 58.The method for judging use permission of information according to claim47, wherein the content is encrypted, and the first signeridentification information is included in the encrypted content.
 59. Themethod for judging use permission of information according to claim 47,wherein the metadata is encrypted, and the first signer identificationinformation includes an encryption key for decrypting the encryptedmetadata, and is included in a second license for using the metadata.60. The method for judging use permission of information according toclaim 47, wherein the usage control information includes revisionpermission information indicating revision permission of metadata, andsaid method for judging use permission of information further includesjudging revision permission of metadata based on the revision permissioninformation.
 61. The method for judging use permission of informationaccording to claim 60, wherein the revision permission information isinformation identifying whether revision can be permitted or not. 62.The method for judging use permission of information according to claim60, wherein the revision permission information is identificationinformation which uniquely identifies the metadata.
 63. The method forjudging use permission of information according to claim 61, wherein therevision permission information is identification information whichidentifies the provider of the metadata which can be revised, using thefirst signer identification information.
 64. The method for judging usepermission of information according to claim 60, wherein the revisionpermission information is either of terminal identification informationwhich uniquely identifies the one or more terminal apparatuses and useridentification information which uniquely identifies a user who uses theterminal apparatuses.
 65. The method for judging use permission ofinformation according to claim 60, wherein the content is encrypted, theone or more terminal apparatuses include an encryption key fordecrypting the content, and hold a first license for using the content,and the revision permission information is included in the firstlicense.
 66. The method for judging use permission of informationaccording to claim 60, wherein the content is encrypted, the one or moreterminal apparatuses include an encryption key for decrypting thecontent, and hold a first license for using the content, and therevision permission information is included in the content.
 67. Themethod for judging use permission of information according to claim 60,wherein the metadata is encrypted, the one or more terminal apparatusesinclude an encryption key for decrypting the metadata, and hold a secondlicense for using the metadata, and the revision permission informationis included in the second license.
 68. The method for judging usepermission of information according to claim 60, wherein the revisionpermission information is included in the metadata.
 69. The method forjudging use permission of information according to claim 47, wherein theusage control information includes control permission informationindicating use permission of user metadata generated by a user in theone or more terminal apparatuses, and in said judging, metadata usepermission is judged based on the control permission information. 70.The method for judging use permission of information according to claim69, wherein the content is encrypted, the one or more terminalapparatuses include an encryption key for decrypting the content, andhold a first license for using the content, and the control permissioninformation is included in the first license.
 71. The method for judginguse permission of information according to claim 69, wherein the contentis encrypted, the one or more terminal apparatuses include an encryptionkey for decrypting the content, and hold a first license for using thecontent, and the control permission information is included in thecontent.
 72. The method for judging use permission of informationaccording to claim 47, wherein the usage control information includesmoving range specifying information which specifies moving range of usermetadata generated by a user in the one or more terminal apparatuses,and in said judging, metadata use permission is judged based on themoving range specifying information.
 73. The method for judging usepermission of information according to claim 72, wherein in the casewhere the moving range specifying information indicates unlimited movingrange, the metadata includes user identification information indicatingthat the metadata is user metadata generated in the one or more terminalapparatuses by a user, for the user metadata a digital signature isomitted, and in said judging, in the case where the user identificationinformation is included, verification of the signature is omitted. 74.The method for judging use permission of information according to claim72, wherein at least a part of the user metadata generated by the userin the one or more terminal apparatuses is encrypted using an encryptionkey common to the one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user,and in said metadata use permission judging, in the case where themoving range specifying information indicates that the moving range islimited to the one or more terminal apparatuses owned by the user, it isjudged that the use of the user metadata is permitted in one or moreterminal apparatuses which can decrypt the user metadata.
 75. The methodfor judging use permission of information according to claim 74, whereinthe encryption key common to the one or more terminal apparatuses issecret information common to the one or more terminal apparatuses ownedby the user, and for the user metadata, at least a part of the usermetadata is encrypted using the secret information.
 76. The method forjudging use permission of information according to claim 72, wherein theuser metadata is assigned with a digital signature of the one or moreterminal apparatuses which have generated the user metadata, and in saidmetadata use permission judging, the one or more terminal apparatuseswhich have generated the user metadata are identified.
 77. The methodfor judging use permission of information according to claim 72, whereinthe content is encrypted, the one or more terminal apparatuses includean encryption key for decrypting the content, and hold a first licensefor using the content, and the moving range specifying information isincluded in the first license.
 78. The method for judging use permissionof information according to claim 72, wherein the content is encrypted,the one or more terminal apparatuses include an encryption key fordecrypting the content, and hold a first license for using the content,and the moving range specifying information is included in the content.79. The method for judging use permission of information according toclaim 72, wherein the metadata is encrypted, the one or more terminalapparatuses include an encryption key for decrypting the metadata, andhold a second license for using the metadata, and the revisionpermission information is included in the second license.
 80. The methodfor judging use permission of information according to claim 72, whereinthe metadata is encrypted, the one or more terminal apparatuses includean encryption key for decrypting the metadata, and hold a second licensefor using the metadata, and the revision permission information isincluded in the metadata.
 81. One or more terminal apparatuses which usecontent provided by a content provider and metadata which is dataprovided by a metadata provider and supplementing the content, theapparatus comprising: metadata use permission judging unit operable tojudge use permission of the metadata based on usage control informationregarding use control of the metadata; and use unit operable to use themetadata in the case where in said metadata use permission judging unit,the use of the metadata is permitted, wherein the usage controlinformation includes first signer identification information identifyinga range of a provider of metadata that can be used, a signature of themetadata provider is included in the metadata, second signeridentification information is included in a public key certificate usedfor verifying the signature of the metadata, the second signeridentification information identifying at least one of the signer of themetadata and the signer of the public key certificate, in said judging,it is judged whether the metadata use is permitted based on the metadataprovider identified in the first signer identification information, thesecond signer identification information, and the signature verificationusing the public key certificate, and the first signer identificationinformation includes information identifying at least one of (i) thesigner of the metadata, (ii) the signer of the public key certificateused for the signature verification of the metadata and (iii) no limit.82. A transmitting apparatus which transmits, to one or more terminalapparatuses, content provided by a content provider and metadata whichis data, provided by a metadata provider, supplementing the content,based on a request, the apparatus comprising: a means to transmit usagecontrol information regarding use control of the metadata so as to havethe one or more terminal apparatuses judge use permission of themetadata, wherein the usage control information includes first signeridentification information identifying a range of a provider of metadatathat can be used, a signature of the metadata provider is included inthe metadata, second signer identification information is included in apublic key certificate used for verifying the signature of the metadata,second signer identification information identifying at least one of thesigner of the metadata and the signer of the public key certificate, insaid judging, it is judged whether the metadata use is permitted basedon the metadata provider identified in the first signer identificationinformation, the second signer identification information, and thesignature verification using the public key certificate, and the firstsigner identification information includes information identifying atleast one of (i) the signer of the metadata, (ii) the signer of thepublic key certificate used for the signature verification of themetadata and (iii) no limit.
 83. A content distribution systemcomprising the one or more terminal apparatuses according to claim 81and a transmitting apparatus which transmits, to the one or moreterminal apparatuses, content provided by a content provider andmetadata which is data, provided by a metadata provider, supplementingthe content, based on a request, the apparatus comprising: a means totransmit usage control information regarding use control of the metadataso as to have the one or more terminal apparatuses judge use permissionof the metadata, wherein the usage control information includes firstsigner identification information identifying a range of a provider ofmetadata that can be used, a signature of the metadata provider isincluded in the metadata, second signer identification information isincluded in a public key certificate used for verifying the signature ofthe metadata, second signer identification information identifying atleast one of the signer of the metadata and the signer of the public keycertificate, in said judging, it is judged whether the metadata use ispermitted based on the metadata provider identified in the first signeridentification information, the second signer identificationinformation, and the signature verification using the public keycertificate, and the first signer identification information includesinformation identifying at least one of (i) the signer of the metadata,(ii) the signer of the public key certificate used for the signatureverification of the metadata and (iii) no limit.
 84. A program forjudging use permission of information on one or more terminalapparatuses which use content provided by a content provider andmetadata which is data provided by a metadata provider and supplementingthe content, the program causing a computer to execute the following:judging use permission of the metadata based on usage controlinformation regarding use control of the metadata; and using themetadata in the case where in said metadata use permission judging, theuse of the metadata is permitted, wherein the usage control informationincludes first signer identification information identifying a range ofa provider of metadata that can be used, a signature of the metadataprovider is included in the metadata, second signer identificationinformation is included in a public key certificate used for verifyingthe signature of the metadata, the second signer identificationinformation identifying at least one of the signer of the metadata andthe signer of the public key certificate, in said judging, it is judgedwhether the metadata use is permitted based on the metadata provideridentified in the first signer identification information, the secondsigner identification information, and the signature verification usingthe public key certificate, and the first signer identificationinformation includes information identifying at least one of (i) thesigner of the metadata, (ii) the signer of the public key certificateused for the signature verification of the metadata and (iii) no limit.